Election Panel Kills A Sox Referendum

August 22, 1986|By William Presecky.

A proposal by Du Page County Democrats for a referendum on whether to build a stadium for the Chicago White Sox in Addison was ruled off the November ballot Thursday by the Du Page Board of Election Commissioners.

The petitions seeking a countywide advisory vote on the matter were deficient, the three-member commission decided in a unanimous vote.

Less than 10 percent of the necessary voters` signatures were submitted in support of the referendum which would have asked whether Du Page County tax money should be used to help build or operate a sports stadium.

The commission also dropped from the ballot in Addison and Bensenville two advisory referendums on whether a regional agency should be established to take over O`Hare International Airport.

That decision was based on two legal opinions that public bodies cannot put advisory matters on the ballot by resolution or ordinance. Both O`Hare referendums were proposed by local governmental bodies.

It now appears that the only issues likely to qualify for the ballot in November will be those generated by petitions signed by voters.

The airport issue appears to be headed for the ballot in Addison Township, however, because the referendum there was requested by a petition from citizens.

Also the election commission`s action apparently will not dissuade Lombard from adopting a resolution seeking an advisory on the airport issue. Lombard Village President Richard Arnold said Thursday that his board would adopt a resolution Thursday night calling for an advisory vote on the airport board. He said the action will be taken in the event a court eventually authorizes it.

The Du Page election commission`s ruling was based on advisory opinions issued by the State Board of Elections in 1981 and by Atty. Gen. Neil Hartigan in 1983.

The petitions seeking a stadium advisory that were presented to the Du Page election commission Monday by Patrick Quinn Sr., of Hinsdale, contained the signatures of 2,488 registered voters,

according to Daniel Nelson, commission director.

Quinn, the Democratic candidate for county treasurer, needed at least 35,980 signatures, or 10 percent of the voters who are registered in the county as of March, in order to get the issue certified.

All referendums must be certified by the election commission by Sept. 4.

The last day to file petitions for referendums was last Monday. Objections to the petitions can be filed until this Monday.

Nelson said he expected that objections would be filed to petitions filed in Bloomingdale Township seeking a referendum which, in effect, could block construction of a proposed new stadium for the White Sox in Addison.

The Bloomingdale referendum, which would be binding, asks whether to create an open-space district in the township. Such a district could buy or condemn land in order to preserve open space and natural resources including the site where the Sox have proposed building a stadium.

Two tax-increase issues and a fire protection district disconnection, both binding issues, also will be on some Du Page ballot.

Voters in unincorporated York Township will be asked to approve a tax of 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to pay for a special police district to patrol in the unincorporated area.

Carol Stream voters will decide whether to levy an extra 5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to establish and maintain a forestry program in the village.

A vote on whether a portion of the South Westmont Fire Protection District should be disconnected and added to the Tri-State Fire Protection District will be on the November ballot in that suburb.